Actor C. Joseph Vijay, president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), announced candidates for all 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 30 seats in Puducherry on Sunday, March 29, 2026, ahead of next month’s Assembly elections. Mr. Vijay will contest in Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchi East, marking his first electoral contest.
Key Contests Shaping Up
The contest in Perambur will see Mr. Vijay face incumbent DMK MLA R.D. Shekar, with the AIADMK front allocating the constituency to the PMK, led by Anbumani. In Tiruchi East, the DMK has fielded incumbent MLA Inigo Irudayaraj, while the AIADMK has nominated K. Rajasekaran.
Several prominent figures from other parties are similarly vying for seats. TVK general secretary ‘Bussy’ N. Anand will contest in T. Nagar, facing DMK’s Raja Anbazhagan and AIADMK’s B. Sathyanarayanan. K.A. Sengottaiyan, a former AIADMK MLA who recently joined TVK, will run in Gobichettipalayam, while his supporter, V. Sathyabama, will contest in Tiruppur North.
Other TVK candidates include Aadhav Arjuna in Villivakkam, K.G. Arunraaj in Tiruchengode, and C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar in Thirupparankundram. Former AIADMK Agriculture Minister Ku.Pa. Krishnan will contest from Lalgudi. Former MLA V.S. Babu will challenge Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Kolathur, where Stalin is seeking his fourth term.
D. Selvam, a former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee general secretary who joined TVK two days prior to the announcement, will compete against DMK youth wing secretary and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.
The candidate selection process wasn’t without internal dissent. TVK workers in the K.V. Kuppam Assembly segment protested the party’s choice, demanding the seat be allocated to a local worker named Prabhu. The protest briefly blocked traffic on Uthamar Gandhi Salai in Nungambakkam before police intervention.
The announcement also brought emotional moments, with R. Sabarinathan, contesting from Virugambakkam, reportedly breaking down in tears of joy, comforted by Mr. Vijay. Sabarinathan’s father, Rajendran, has reportedly worked with Mr. Vijay for over two decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is contesting against C. Joseph Vijay in Perambur?
Incumbent DMK MLA R.D. Shekar is contesting against C. Joseph Vijay in Perambur, with the AIADMK front allocating the constituency to the PMK, led by Anbumani.
How many candidates has the TVK announced in total?
The TVK has announced candidates for all 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 30 seats in Puducherry.
Were there any protests related to the candidate selection?
A section of TVK workers from the K.V. Kuppam Assembly segment protested against the party’s candidate selection, demanding the seat be allocated to a local party worker.
As the election draws closer, it remains to be seen how these candidates will perform and whether the TVK can translate its broad candidate list into significant electoral gains.